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Fill in bassist?!?
- Thread starter Fletz
- Start date
I think a heads-up was already given, by the OP, to the band, announcing he was going to be at a family function and therefore not available on that date. It's not as though they booked a gig and then said "hey we booked this, without you, without consulting your schedule to see if you could do it".
This thing called professionalism... this scenario is just one part to that puzzle. It goes right along with "make sure you are prepared for the material," "don't be a complainer or bad-attitude guy/girl", "if you're doing a project in the studio for someone, you do it THEIR way, not yours, without complaint," "always have everything you need and a back-up" and "always be at least outlet-neutral (i.e., make sure you bring a power strip etc so that no matter what, there are the same or greater # of open outlets when you are done hooking up than before)" etc. Most of these fall under the heading of "it's not all about you." Get used to it, OP, if you want to be a pro or working semi-pro. Prima donna attitudes will get you sidelined faster than any technical deficiency. The world does not stop when you are your cousin's wedding. Just sayin'.
If they had not asked you if you could do the gig in the first place, that would be a bad sign... 
Think about how they would feel, sitting at home when they could be playing, because you can't play and don't want them to get a sub. IMHO, that would be worse for your standing in the band than having them play with someone with whom they're much less familiar.
Otherwise, ask yourself what you really want when you say that you wished they'd ask you if it was OK to get a sub after you already turned down the gig.
Think about how they would feel, sitting at home when they could be playing, because you can't play and don't want them to get a sub. IMHO, that would be worse for your standing in the band than having them play with someone with whom they're much less familiar.
Otherwise, ask yourself what you really want when you say that you wished they'd ask you if it was OK to get a sub after you already turned down the gig.
you're being a primadonna, you literally are trying to cost them money and are mad cuz they want paid. I bet you werent travelling for your job for free.
My current band has subbed out for everybody at one time or another. The bandleader even subbed out his own spot once when he wasn't feeling well. We've subbed out lead singers and drummers frequently.
There's no reason for the rest of the band to lose money due to your personal situation. Plus one of the easiest ways to not be asked back by a venue is to cancel with short notice.
If you do your job well within the band and play nice with the other kids then you should have nothing to worry about. If they do use this situation to audition somebody new, then you were already on the outs so it doesn't matter. If they are not auditioning the sub yet still hire him to replace you, then these are the type of people you want to play with anyway.
So basically, no matter what you can't lose here.
There's no reason for the rest of the band to lose money due to your personal situation. Plus one of the easiest ways to not be asked back by a venue is to cancel with short notice.
If you do your job well within the band and play nice with the other kids then you should have nothing to worry about. If they do use this situation to audition somebody new, then you were already on the outs so it doesn't matter. If they are not auditioning the sub yet still hire him to replace you, then these are the type of people you want to play with anyway.
So basically, no matter what you can't lose here.
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It's only business, it's not personal. You're not available, they don't want to lose the gig, so you get subbed. It's business as usual in my part of the world, especially in cover bands. You build up a network of trustable musicians and then call/use them when subbing is needed. That is all.
In the real world of working musicians with professional attitudes this is commonplace and not a cause for getting in a snit.
Don't be Doug. Doug was my old guitar player. Doug got all worked up when we said we'd use a sub for a gig that he did not want to play (long story). We had worked a long time to get into this venue, and we were not about to cancel. Doug rage-quit the band via the band's Facebook, and to my knowledge has not played a paying gig in over two years. Don't be Doug.
It's one gig. Around here gigs are hard to get, so I say "the show must go on." If you're a good band mate, you have nothing to be worried about. Ask what you can do to help get the sub up to speed. Maybe the sub can hook you up with gigs down the road?
It's one gig. Around here gigs are hard to get, so I say "the show must go on." If you're a good band mate, you have nothing to be worried about. Ask what you can do to help get the sub up to speed. Maybe the sub can hook you up with gigs down the road?
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,942
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Ya know, after thinking about this a bit... I have to agree that it was uncool of them to do that without telling you first. Any time I was replaced I was informed before they did it. I think it might be worth letting them know that the respectful thing would have been to tell you first, but I'm not sure you have anything to gain by doing that :/. Not a respectful move on their part, but it's done already.
I always hire my own subs. That way, I can choose someone whose playing is inferior to mine. 
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Yes, probably ideal if they had said, "well, remember you said you're out of town on the 27th? We'll we're going to book that gig, are you sure you can't do it?" Then "okay, well, we're going to get a fill-in for you then". I don't think they need to "ask if it's okay" to use a fill-in. But it's smart if they were to check with their main bass player one more time before proceeding to see if he/she turns out to be available after all. This is especially true because once the sub is booked, it's the sub's gig regardless unless it is some huge deal event; and even then you figure out a way to make it work out for the sub too.
But given that the OP had announced already he could not play that date, it's not a terrible transgression that they booked it with a sub and told him. As far as they were concerned his availability had been checked. It just would have been smarter on their part to see if Main Guy had a schedule change.
If done in the right tone/spirit, and IF the player's schedule is subject to change, and if the player told the band quite a while ago that he was not going to be available (e.g., he didn't just tell the band 2 days ago he is not available), it might be okay to say to the band "hey that's fine, no problem, but next time call me first before you book it, because sometimes my work schedule changes." Of course, if the work thing was pretty much definite and everyone knew it, then I don't see why they need to ask and I don't see that the OP bassist should be concerned that they moved ahead, knowing he wasn't available for sure.
If you were to decide to bring it up with them, my advice would be to make very certain that you can articulate a clear reason for doing so, and can clearly articulate what you would like the result of your conversation to be. Not having a clear and achievable goal is a very bad idea, IMHO.
As always, it depends on the situation.
My BL clears every gig with me before confirming with the venue. But I am the front man and sing 70% of the lead vocals. No Hanson, no gig.
But we've subbed drummers before, and if I were "only" a bass player, I would expect them to sub me out, too.
My BL clears every gig with me before confirming with the venue. But I am the front man and sing 70% of the lead vocals. No Hanson, no gig.
But we've subbed drummers before, and if I were "only" a bass player, I would expect them to sub me out, too.
I have to be honest and say that I'm never really thrilled when someone is filling in for me, unless I'm certain I'm a 1000X better than them. I learned though that it's best to just smile and say "awesome" whenever someone is found that can do a gig that I can't. Trust me that it's the best way to handle this. Even if that's not what you're feeling.
I'd back that up with some solid reasoning, but I have to get to work.
I too post from work, and sometimes need to get back to work.
Best thing you can do is tell your bandmates your glad they were able to find a suitable sub on shirt notice and you hope the gig went well and they had a good night. That's a pro attitude and if they're pro they will appreciate you more for that attitude. It shows your about the band first and your ego second......unless it's your band and you're BL.....
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,942
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I can get in big trouble fer playin around here while at work, like I am now
.... But truth is, I've got absolutely nothing to do. Sitting at a desk watching a kid take a test, by himself. It's next to impossible for him to cheat in any way. And I'm effing bored.
I can get in big trouble fer playin around here while at work, like I am now
Can you hum a bass solo to the kid, maybe? Do the air bass where its up super high?
